Introduction And Leather Working Etiquette? ?

[bikermutt07]

Howdy folks, I'm brand new here and have a question on etiquette.

First though, a little about me. My name is Matt, I am 40 years old, and I'm a carpenter by nature. I have always been good with my hands and love to learn things. I have a wealth of useless knowledge and a little bit of handy knowledge.

I was fortunate enough to be born and raised in God's Great Republic. But alas, I met the only woman worth leaving Texas for. I currently live in Bossier City, LA. My wife and I recently had our second son together, but tragically we lost him after only 2 weeks. After spending a few weeks in a grief stricken stuper I had to put my hands to something. This may only ever be a hobby for me and that's okay. I am really enjoying it. My first hobby in years.

I have always been left handed and figured if I purchased a little bit of stuff i could make my own holsters and sheaths for the price of a custom or two. I had been curious for a year or two.

I've been researching for awhile and have now completed 3 projects.

Most of what I've learned have been from youtube instruction.

I watched Wofle customs series on sheath construction and several of Leodis videos from England.

So, on with the question. If I learned this new skill well enough and wanted to sell some items later is it ok that my designs are similar?

Is this what is done? These folks worked hard on their craft and videos and were kind enough to pas along the knowledge. But then again they made those videos to help people learn.

This may be the dumbest question ever buy I couldn't find an answer searching the web.

Anywho, thanks for your patience and answers for yet another noob.

P.s. i'll post pics in next post.

[bikermutt07]

Here are my three projects.

1. Camp friendly Dual carry for my Esee Laserstrike,

2. The Phone Taco. It holds my kyrocera Torque and my remodeling business cards. I cut out a section to show my logo when case is open.

3. Folder case for my Falkniven FH9. I am proudest of this one. I put a scribble effect on it.

[mlapaglia]

yes it is ok if your designs are similar. Its pretty hard to not be similar on most items. Go for it.

[bikermutt07]

Thanks,

[scottyslife]

If you liked the Leodis videos, then I wood suggest checking out Nigel Armitage he is amazing at explaining the art of saddle stitching and as a bonus for you he is left handed. Your projects thus far look good

Scott

[zuludog]

Not on leather, but I think this comment I heard years ago is relevant

If you steal the ideas of one author, that's plagiarism; if you steal the ideas of several authors, that's bona fide research

[bikermutt07]

Thanks, I'll check him out.

[MonicaJacobson]

That phone pouch/wallet is sweet.

[bikermutt07]

Thank you.

[camano ridge]

If you come up with a completely new holster design that is functional. Let me know so I can make one similar to it. If you look on this site for holsters, pancake avenger etc. You will find that for the most part they all share some similairities. THe projects you have posted so far look like a pretty good begining.

[bikermutt07]

Thank you. I think I'm gonna improve the phone taco with a few welts next time.

[TwinOaks]

It's generally recognized that there are only so many ways to wrap leather around things. Similarity in basic design, especially with something like an Avenger style holster is extremely difficult to avoid. Where you would run into trouble is if you start producing exact duplicates, including logo designs, or certain specific aesthetic design elements, and selling it. My default example of this is the Harley Davidson logo. If you make a tool roll and put a Harley-like shield on it for YOUR bike (for the sake of discussion) then you'd be okay.

If you start making tool rolls, stamp them with a HD logo, and sell them as HD branded merchandise, you would start getting letters from attorneys.

[Tramps Leatherworking]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery --- how many motorcycle manufacturers don't make a Harley clone/lookalike model?

[bikermutt07]

Thanks Twin Oaks, that sums it up perfectly for me.

[SteelcityK9Cop]

If you figure out who invented the pancake holster, let us all know so we can thank him!

Love the phone case!!

[camano ridge]

Roy Baker is generaly credited with designing the pancake holster about 40 years ago and patented it in the early 70's. Roy Baker is commonly called the Father of the Pancake Holster, also Roy Baker the Pancake Maker. Sadly he is no longer with us. I still have the Guns and Ammo magazine (1974) that has one of the first articles on Roy Baker and the Pancake hoslter. After I read that article. I ran out to tandy bought a chunk of leather and made my first holster. It literally looked like a pancake with a bite out of it. I still have that holster hanging on the wall in my shop. Almost every holster maker since the early 70's has made a pancake holster in one form or another. I see that as a tribute to Roy Baker.